Method of and apparatus for purifying oil.



E. SHNER, DEGD. u. E. 51mm, Anummfrmmm. KETHOD 0E MW) APPARATUS FOR PURE-WHO DH1.

AIPLIATNN PXLED MANI 27, MM.

J. HNEH@ JVU.

M. In. mmm. AnMmm'rm'mm.

ME''HQ 0? MWD APPARATUS FR PURFYING UIL.

Ml'momwm mmm: MM m, 191s.

Pameuted me 9, WMA.

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Ammm, mrmm'rmwlx.

Fi BAN APPARATUS? FOR UHUFYG 0J.

0 LED MAY ik?, 1511" 0. 3. SEWER, D'EX).

M. B. MINNIE, ADMINISTEATRIX.

METHOD or AND APPARATUS ma PUMWING 011,.

am APPLYUATIOH FILED MAY 47, 1913. UQ Patntd une Q, Mm

i sTATEs vPATENT OFFICE.

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DECEVASED, LLT 0l' BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY, BY MAUD E. SHINEB, LDHNISTRLTBIX, Op!" BAYONNE,\NEW JERSEY. v

, imon" F AND APPARATUS FOB PURIFYING OIL.

T0 all whom it may concern Be it known that Graven J. Sinnen, late a citizen of the United States, residing in Bayonne, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, did invent certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Purifying Oil, of'which the folowing is a specification. V

This invention relates to methods of and a paratus for purifying oils wherein the disti late is treated with sulfuric yacid to remove therefrom impurities which if present in the oil wouldvcreate objectionable odor and color .and wouldy impair theburning qualities of the oil, the oil being subsequently wished and then treated with a suitable alkali to neutralize any 'acid that may remain after washing` and also to; combine with and v4removefany sulfur compounds which may be present'. [The method most commonly used is an intermittent one,.a large tank o'r agitatorv .beingeinployed in which the different steps of thepiocess are carried on, there being a period of rest or `intermission betweenthe steps and such agitators are not airtight, per# V'mitting the escape of vapors which can be saved.

.As is well ltnown art, distillate-S. which are prepared in such manner as to have the fluidity and tire test suitablefor the market, still possess an odor Vand a` pale lemon color and also `residual v quantities of sulfur, which, ofcourse, are ob..

yeetl'onable. These are due in part to unavoidable destructive distillation andin part to thenatural-impurities inthc crude oil. When washed with sulfuric-acid (usually 6G" Baume) there is an oxidation, sulfonation and polymerization. Impurities in'this condition arc absorbed and chemically dissolved in the acid. After the equilibrium is established in the solutions, and the acid is settled and drawn otl, the oil still contains in solo# tion some of the snlfonic acids, imparting to it a; brown reddish color' and containing certain `hydrocarbons of objectionable odor and color. VIn tbeapplication of water these residual compounds show )reference for the however, it is found more convenient to stop lili the .washing earlier and neutralize the sul` fonic acidswitti caustic soda.v Y This gives rise to a small amount-of. sul fonates of soda in" ythe sulfur is applied which ac s `by those skilled in the 'is held in solution in the oil. After the oil has been 'saturated with ilumbate ot'- soda, s an o. h agent and precipitates sultid of lead leaving the oil sweet with the original quantity of sulfur still contained therein.

It. will be observed that the process hereinbefore described is au intermittent one and is for the'mest part performed in a. single vessel or tank, called an agitator. There are numerous stops or intermissions in the process for agitation,settling, etc., and it requires several hours for any oil which lhas been supplied to the agitator to be withdrawnI therefrom in a `puritied condition. The agitation in the process'above described Y is eti'ected by means of air injected'into the container which is open or not air-tight, and there is a considerable loss of volatile gases which are liberated duringlr the agitation.

T hisl loss is, in fact. quit-e serious.

.Micol-ding to the. present invention the `several operations from the point where the cooling orhcating is commenced to the point nectcd by air-tightpipes and there-is no loss ,of volatile gases during the process.

The invention relates especially totliefreLA tilting, by means of sulfuric y.acidiandifalluili,

of petroleum in the form ofnaphtha, burning oil distillate. or other suitable distillate, out. it: may be advantageously used for purifying: undistillcd products of petroleum in t le crude or other forms. It will be understood. therefore, that the inventiony isapplicable to pctroleums or oils of various kinds.

' In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, Figure'l is a diagram of the apparatus for purifying oils constructed in accordance vwith this invention. Fig. 2 shows a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l

Patented June 9, 1914.

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and illustrates the washing tanks and some of their pipe connections. F ie. 2 is a detail view of one of the sprinklers preferably used inthe tempering and washing tanks. Fig. 2b is a detail view of a form of air inlet valve that may be used. Fig. 2 is a detail view partly in side elevation and partly in section showing particularly how oil and water enter and leave the tempering tanks.v Fig. 3 shows a vertical central section through one of the mixers forming part of the apparatus. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are detail views of parts of the mixer.

The apparatusl employed preferably comprises twelve tanks.-tliree tanks in which the oil is cooled or heated to bring it to the required ten'iperature, three tanks for washing purposes, four settling tanks, and two mixing tanks.

The cooling or heating tanks A, A', A2 are arranged in series, as shown, oil being pumped into the bottom of tank A at X, (Figs. 1 and 2c) filling this tank and flowing from the top of the tank through the pipe a to the bottom of tank A in which tank it rises, overflows through the pipe a. and enters the bot-tom of tank A2 which tank it lls and overflows at the top through the. pipe a'' and enters the bottom of'the settling tank C. The pipes a, a. and a2 are provided with valves a3, a4, a5, and each tankisprovided with a water-spraying device'l) which is connected by a pipe d with a manifold D', which manifold is connected by pipes Il', de, Z3 with the hot water supply pipe E, the supply pipe F/ for bottom water and tbe supply pipe E2 for well water. The bottom water i referred to comes from thc bottom of the tanks A. A', A2 and is stored in a suitable receptacle and afterward brought in by pipe. as indicated in Fig. 1.y and may be used for modifying the telnperature of the oil in said tanks. his bot'- tom water is usually at a temperature of aboutit@o F. Each of the pipes d. d', (Z2 is provided with suitable valves e. e', e2. B V operating these valves the sp aying device D may be supplied with hot water, bottom water or well water, or a mixture of these wat-ers, as may be required for the purpose of obtaining the desired temperature in the oil. Each of the tanks A, A'. A2 is in like manner connected with the pipes E, E. E2 and each of said tanks A, A. A2 is provided with a drain pipe F (Figs. 1 and 2) in the bottom for carrying off water and delivering it to a sewer pipe G. Said pipe F is also connected with a pumping-out line H. The drain pipe I" is connected with said pipes G and ll in the manner clearly indicated in the drawings. valves f being employed to control .the flow of liquid to either the pipe lr or the pipeH. Each of lthe tanks A, A', A2 is in like manner connected with the pipes G andH.y `The oil continuously flows from the pipe X to and through the several tanks A, A. A2 where it acquires the desired temperature and it then passes to the settling tank C wherev any water that may still cling to the oil descends or is held at the bottom while the oil rises and passes out: at the top through a pipe l which leads to a mixing tank J. the details of construction of which are shown in Figs. 3. l, 5 and 6, and will be hereinafter more fully described. The pipe I is provided with valves z', i', as shown. The number and sizes of the cooling or heating tanks-and the number and sizes of the settling tanks employed may vary at ditlerent seasons ot the year or in the treatment of dill'erent oils. naphtha. etc.

`- lt will be understood that water of the proper temperature is supplied continuously through the spraying devices l) and it comes in contact with the continuously flowing oil, the water being heavier descends and passes the constantly rising oil.

In the summer time the temperature of the oil entering the cooling tanks is usually about 85o F. By treating the oil in the several cooling tanks with water at a temperature of say (30 F. the oil' may have its temperature gradually reduced'to about 60 The temperature of the oil varies at different times and under diderent conditions. and the temperature of the water should be correspondingly varied in order to bring the oil to a temperature of about (30 l". before it is subjected to the acid treatment.

The cooling tanks A. A2 and the settling tank are all closed air-tight and are joined b v air-tight connections. 'lhe water admitted to the cooling tanks and which descends to the bottom thcrcot tlows continuously to thc sewer. the tlow heilig regulated by suitable valves. The water settling in the tank t is drawn thcret'rom and passed to the sewe' as ot'tcn as required. gages being employed to show the waterlevel. lt will he understood that the pumping-outy vas line ll is for the purpose of emptying they tanks throughout the s vstem of oil when repairs are necessary and for other like purposes. and normallyY this pumping-out line ll is not in use` but is only employed occasionally.

Fresh acid (preferably ('tO Baume) from a suitable pump or other device for supplying acid under pressure is conveyed by a pipe X to the top of the mixer .l and is mived with oil in the manner hereinafter described. The acid passes downwardly through the oil and is drawn oila as often as required through a pipe li provided with a valve and it is conveyed as sludge-acid to any suitable rectqitacle. The oil which rises to the .top ot' the mixer passes b v means ot a pipe M provided with a valve m to the bottom of a settling tank N where it is sepanoname rated from any acid which may cling to it, said acid settlingr to the bottom and being drawn ott' when required through a viilved pipe n and passed to the pipe L which conveys itto any suitable receptacle for sludgeu acid. rli"lie oil which continually rises in the tank N passes out through the top thereof through a pipe 'P provided with a check valve p and it enters the lower portion ot a washing;r tank Q which is supplied vwith either hot water, bottom water, well water, or a mixture thereof through the pipes y. 1]', q2. said supplv being controlled by the valves c., c', c2. Each set oit pipes q, y', rf connects with a pipe (l provided with a spraying device o Fig. E2". rthe tirst wash tank Q should be lead lined because the oil has coniining'led with it some `vieak acid which would attack an iron tank, and furthermore the oil is cooled or maintained at a relatively low temperature in the tank Q tor a similar purpose. i'. e.. so that the linetal tank shall lli) ynot be attacked by the Aweak acid in the said tank. AThere are tivo other wash tanks Q', Q2. which are supplied with water from the pipes E. E. E2 in a similar way and each of said tanks Q. Q', Q2` is provided with a discharge pipe lt connected by pipes li?, R2 with/the pipe (i which yleads to the sewer or to the pipe H through which oil may be pumped when emptying the system. rllhe water supplied to the tanks Q, Q', Q2 iii the normal operation of the appa atus passes continuously through the pipe connections described to the sewer. rllhe tlow ot the water mayv be regulated by the valves shown.

Suitable air inlet valves are applied to the tanks where required. ln Figi. Q such valves are shown at lli and the other tanks in the system may be provided with such valves. '.l`lie connecting pipes may. it necessary he equipped with air inlet valves as indicated at B in Figs. '2 and 2*. Such valves are necessariY when emptyingr the system through the pumping-out line lll, but when, oil is be ing' pumped through vthe tanks, such valves are, of course. closed. The air inlet valve li shown in Fig. EZ is oiE well known construction. lt comprises a chamber t) coniiiiunicating' with the pipe tu, connectingr the wash tanks Q. Q' and 'alves b provided with springs (b2 to open them. rll`he valves are normally held closed by the internal pressure. but when this pressure is released the valves are opened b v the springs. Similar valves are attached to the pipes S and The tanks where required may be provided with air chambers B2 as indicated iii llfig. Q. Tlieseas shown in Fig. 2. are connected with the pipes S, S and S. The air in the tanks and pipes when l`the system is being,` filled with oihior the most part, passes out at the delivery end ot the system, but some air lingers and such air will he forced up into air chambers, such as indicated at B2, and the air pressure may be relieved, it necessary, from time to time, by means ot air-relief cocks The oil alter rising in the tank (Q2 passes out from the top thereof and tlows by means oi the pipe el having a valve s to the bottoni ot the tank Q in which it rises and passes out from the top through a pipe S' having:r a valve s and enters the bottom of the tank (d2 where it rises and flows out troni the top through a pipe S2 having a valve s: and then enters the bottoni of the settling,r tank T. lt will be understood that the oil is washed as it Hows through the tanks Q, Q', Q2 and the temperature oi' the oil may be gradually raised b v employing well water, wai-ni water, hot water` or a combination thereof, required. lret'erably the teinperature ot' the water admitted to the first, tank Q; is Glo F., that admitted to the sewiid tank Q' is 750 li.. and that admitted to the third tank Q2 is H50 l?. ln this way the oil is raised to a temperature best htted tor the alkali treatment. ln the settling tank 'l the oil is separated from any water which may pass over from the wash tanks with it, such water collecting;r at the bottom and being drawn oil' to the sewer pipe (i as ot'ten as required. The tank 'l is connected by means of thel vaived pipes if, t', i2 with the pipes Gr and ll., and when the system is beingr einptied the valves maj.v be so operated as to connect the tank 'll` with the pumping-out line lll. lln this connection it will. be observed that the settling tank (l is provided with valved pipes c, c. c2 connecting with the sewer pipe tir and the puiiipingaiiit line lll.

'llhe oil separated ilrom the wash-water flows out from the top of the settling tank T through a pipe ll having;r valves u., u' and enters the bottoni ot' another mixingn tank V similar to the tank .l hereinbe'liore referred to. Fresh l've (preferably Slo Baume) is supplied under pressure through the pipe W to the top ot the tank l and tlows down through said tank meeting the oil rising therein and being' thorourhly mixed with said oil in the manner hereinafter described. 'lhe bottoni ol the tank "V is connected bv a pipe ld having :i valve i" with a pipe V2 through which the spent lye flows continuously duringn the normal operation ot the apparatus. the tlow beiner regulated by the valve a. 'lhe oil passes out through the top ot the tank V through a pipe V havingr a valve v2 and enters the bottom of the settling tank Y which tank is also connected to the pipe V2 through which spent lye is delivered as often as required, rlhe purilied or finished oil passes from the top ot the tank Y through a pipe. Z having' a valve to any suitable recclitacle. Where naphtha is beingr treated it is not necessary to tui'ther treatV it with clay in the. manner hereinbet'ore referred to, but the iiaplitha when it issues from the pipe Z is ready for final distillation and is then ready for the market. l l kerosene is being purified, a further treatment with clay is necessary. For this purpose two or more tanks equipped with suitable agitating mechanism may be employed, the oil passing `from the pipe Z being conveyed alternately to said tanks and thus the llo-w of oil may he. continuous and the clayiug operation carried on concurrently.

As before specified, all ot the twelve tanks are closed air-tight and are supplied with vsuitable gages, vacuum valves, ete. The check valve p is for the purpose of preventing water from passing from the tank Q to the settling tank N in case of accident. as where the supply of water or the pressure of water may exceed the pressure ot' oil. this valve p permits the oil to ow freely, as in-` dicated by the arrow inlig. 1,'but it will close if the liquid tends to flow in the opposite direction.

The pipe l. as indicated in Fig. 2, is provided with a valve p and this pipe connects with a pipe Z, as indicated in Fig. This pipe Z also connects with a pump Z* which latter is connected by a pipe Z3 with the pipe L. The pipe Z is provided with a valve e as indicated in Fig. 1. The. pipe li, it will be observed, connects with the tanks .l and N so that by rlosin; r the valve p the` tiow oll oil to the wash tank Q may be stopped and thc acid-water in the tank Q may be transferred to the pipe L, or oil from themixe'r J and tank X may be transferred to and put through the tank (.2 by means of the pump Z2. ln this way the acid may be washed out of the oil and this oil may be pumped out and transferred to a suitable receptacle when emptying the system. 'hen it is desired to stop the operation and entirely empty the pipespthe water and chemicals are first withdrawn from the tanks in the manner before described and then the pumping-out line H is connected by means ot' the valves. before referred-to. with the tanks and said tanks may be emptied ot the oil which they contain, the vacuum valves, before referred to, assisting in the emptying of the tanks in a well known way.

The tact that this process may be carried on continuously is largely duc to the use of mixers for lninging the acid and oil and the alkali and oil into intin'iate contact with each other and in a sub-divided or atomi/.ed condition. lt is largely for this reason that the periods of settling heretofore necessary are avoided.

The mixing apparatus. which is preterably employed. and which in practice has` been found to be most etiicient is illustrated particularly in Fig. Spf the drawings to which referenceis now invited.

This mixing apparatuscomprises a cylinder 1 standing vertically, closed at opposite ends by heads 2, P), and restingr on any suitable foundation 4. lentrally arranged within the cylinder is a vertical shaft 5 resting in hearings at its lower end and passing through a stuiiing box 7 carried by the, upper head Q. The' shatt 5 also passes through a shaftmounting 8 which may be provided with hall-bearings t) and at its upper end the shaftcarries a beveled pinion 1() meshing with a corresponding pinion 11 on a driving .-haft 12. The cylinder l is provided with man-holes 13 and 14 and it; is equipped on its side near its lower end with an inlet 15 for oil and at the top with an outlet lt for oil. It is also provided with an inlet 1T at the top for acid or lye. Otherwise the container may be of any suitable constriu-tion. Within the cylinder l is arranged a vertical series of pans 18. These have a general conical shape being of the general construct-ion shown in Figs. 4c and 5.

'lilach of the pans 18 is secured at its periphery 19 to the side wall of the cylinder 1 in any suitable way and it is divided preferably into four pockets by means of radial partitions Qt). The pan is open at the top and has a slopin; r bottom 21 )rovided with a central opening 22 surrounding the shaft 5. 'l`he pans 1S are spaced apart, as shown, and between each two pans are. arranged perforated plates 23, Q4. Each pair of plates is attached to a hub Q5 secured to and revolvin; r with the shaft 5. (hie means ot' securing tht` hub to the shaft is indicated at 26. 'lhese plates, which are circular and correspond in form with 'the interior diameter of the cylinder 1 extend close to the walls of the cylimler without touching it. being free to revolve within the Cylinder. Yl`he upper plate i2?) of each pair of plates is perforated preierably with linch holes preferably "paced one inch between centers and the bottom plate 2t of each pair is preferably perforated with inch holes preferably spaced inch between centers. All of the plates are' similarly construct-ed and are arranged as clearly shown in IVig. 3 ot the drawings. ln order to provide a bearing for the shaft 5, about midway between the upper and lower ends of the cylinder 1 one ot the pans` is provided with a hub 2T which is attached to the' partitions Ztl in the manner shown in Fig. 4. This provides means i'or steadying the shaft 5 rand is desirable inasmuch as the mixer may down through the opening 22 of this panv ttl All() Loeaeaa and is received by the uppermost pair of plates 23, 24. llach pan serves to carry the chemicals into the center ot the mixer and drop them down onto tht` revolving plates which throw them out by centrifugal torce toward the shell ot' the mixer. and the oil. naptha or other liquid beingr treated passes up through the center ot' the pan while the chemicals are passingr down through said openings and are at this time beingr mixed.

This apparatus insures an intimate mixture of the chemicals with the oil, the particles being thoroughly atomized and for this reason the dow ot oil through the mixer may be made continuous. lt is largely due to the use ot mixtures ot' thc kind described that the process may be performed contiruousy.

The mixer l tor treating the petroleum with sulfuric acid otl suflicient strength to attack the hydrocarbons of oljijectionahle odor and color is so constructed thaty while it thoroughly mixes thc oil and acid, it permits the acid to pass downward and the oil to pass upward and the conditions are such as to cause the formation ot a viscous liquid ot blackish or brownish coloration with oily constituents of objectionable odor and color, known as acid sludge furtherlnore the entraincd moisture in the oil is absorbed by the partially spent acid in the lower portion of the mixer, while the oil is treated in the upper portion with the stronger acid, the` ope. ation being progressive. the thus dried oil being@r subjected to acid ot' progressively increasing strength. ln the mixer for the alkaline treatment thc conditions are the same and the cntrained moisture entering with the oil at the lower part of this mixer is absorbed at the lower portion of the tank and the thus dried oil is treated in the upper portion of the tank by the alkali.

1When a moist petroleum distillate is subjected to the eit'ect, ot' spent or partly spent sulfuric acid (i. e. acid sludge), itv has a tendency to form therewith though not immediately objectionable hydri'icarbons. which hydrocabons may be absorbed bythe petroleum distillate, giving it sometimes a disagreeable odor. ltis advisable. therefore, to shorten the time in which particles ot the sludge and particles of the treated petroleum distillate are together. as nzuch as possible; and any process which contemplates the curtailmentot the time duringr which certain particles of the sludge and certain particles of the treated distillate are in contact. helps to produce a superior product. ln the process of this application. the time ot mutual contact is shortened by several agencies, and the extent of such contact is increased.y ln the first place, the current of the distillate and ot the purifying agent are made to flow in opposite directions, and these direct-ions,

in the present mixing chambers, are up and down. Merely dropiiing the heavier purifying solution, acid sludge., or sulfuric acid gradually forming sltulgc. through theV ascending current. ot the distillate, is not enough to insure the proper extent ot" contact between the two. This contact may be extended by stirring,Y or agitation. but the peculiar etl'ect of my rotating agitator plates 23. 2-1, greatly enhances the extent of contact between the drops or portions ot` the heavier acid and the hydrocarbon by forcing or thug-ing' these drops or grnttules sidewise across the ascending; current, so that there is a tendency t'or the acid or sludge to aecumulatc somewhat. at the peripheries of these. stirrers where it is again itung; or swirled centerwise into the mass ot oil or naphtha while its tryratory impetus is deadencd at the moment it connes into contact with the plates 20. ltthen drifts through the next opening! 2;). to be again caught and flungn guttulonsly through the ascending mass ot oil or naphtha. rl`he alternation ot' these phases oi centrifugal action with phases of downward drift due to tfrrayity etiect, insures a constant incipient separation and remixinp; of the two, whereby the contact of the. little drops or gruttules of the acid with the mass of the distillate, is magnified or extended to a very great extent. rlthe outward 'ttinging ot the particles ot acid, duc to centrifugal action, necessarily inyolres a correspondin ar inward tlow ol an equal quantity ot' distillate which also adds to the el'liect. lrobabl)7 also. as the particles or drops of acid or sludge draw toward the bottom oic the mixing' cylinder, and as they become thicker or more yiscid, owing to the churning.r action ot the agitators. they have some tendency to agglomerate or to gather into larger masses. thus insuring their collection more. quickly in the bottom ot the cylinder. than would happen it such drops were merely allowed to drift or fall down. even it their fall were broken by heaters or paddles ot the usual mixinmfr or agritatinpr type. ln the present instance, the trayerse of contact ot say a single drop or guttule of the acid in contact with the distillate, is greatly extended through a given time, thus obyiating;r the objectionable result likely to arise when to sludge and distillate are too loupr a time in contact, besides shortening the length ot' time the apparatus is in use, thus diminishing overhead cost and cutting down the quantity ot acid necessary. as elsewhere stated.

`lVhcn a mixer is employed for thc treat` ment. with alkali pure or partly spent, the alkali salts or compounds formed have a tendency to emulsity with the distillate, ,some times, and their separation therefrom is effected with ditliculty. ly shortening" the time of treatment, and reducing the quantity of alkali, this tendency is likewise greatly reduced or entirely eliminated.

The dimensions of the mixers may be varied. In practice the mixer tank has been Q5 feet high and 7 feet in diameter, being provided with ten groups or pairs of revolving plates and a corresponding number of pans. The plates are. preferably placed about 2 feet apart and the two plates of each group are preferably 3 inches apart. Burning oil distillate at a temperature of about 60 F. may be supplied at the bottom of the tank J at the' rate of 300 barrels (40 gallons to the barrel) per hour and sulfuric acid of 66 Baume may be supplied at the top of said tankin suiiicient quantity to produce the desired effect on the petroleum. It has been found that about twenty per cent. less acid may be supplied than would be required to produce an equal purification in accordance with prior current practice. About five and five-eighths pounds of sulfuric acid of 66 Baume per barrel (40 gallons) of'a burning oil distillate is required according to this invention, while an equal amount of distillate according to the old method requires seven pounds of such acid. The perforated plates may be revolved at the rate of thirty-eight revolutions per minute, but the speed may be somewhat varied.

Naphtha may be introduced more rapidly than burning oil distillate, say at the rate of 450 barrels per hour, and av smaller amount of sulfuric acid per barrel may be employed, say three pounds of sulfuric acid of 66 Baume per barrel, whereas by the old method tive pounds of acid were necessarily used. It will thus be seen that not only is the operation continuous, but there is a large saving of acid in the use of the present invention. lVhile the best results are obtained by passing the oil and chemicals in opposite directions, it is conceived that somewhat similar results may be obtained in other ways and all of the claims hereinafter made are not necessarily limited to the passage of these liquids in opposite directions, but it is important that the chemicals and petroleum -should be intimately mixed in the manner before specified to produce the results pointed out. The entrained moisture in the oil is, as before specified, withdrawn therefrom in the same vessel where it is treated with the specified chemicaland this is preferred to an apparatus where said`4 moisture is absorbed in another vessel.

It will be observed that the tanks are all closed airtight so that danger from fire is reduced to a minimum. The easily volatile gases are savedrwhereas in the old method many of these gases were ylost because the agitators employed were not closed airtight. Furthermore by this continuous method there is a large saving of acid because when the oil and acid are passing through the mixer there is a thorough mixing of the two liquids, whereas in the old system the acid does not come in contact with every particle of the oil and it is necessary to use a relatively large amount ot' acid to obtain the desired results.

What is herein claimed as the. invention of thel said (Livi-:n J. Smm-zn, is-

1. 'llie liercindescribed continuous process of purifying oil, which consists in mixing with the oil at a relatively low temperature, and while being rotated and flowing continuously, sulfuric acid while being rotated and flowing in an opposite direction to that 0f the oil, separat-ing from the oil while still owing the acid sludge produced, washing the oil with cool water While flowing to cleanse it from said acid, further washing the oil with water at a higher temperature to raise the temperature of the oil for the subsequent alkali treatment, separating the wash-water from the flowing oil, mixing with the oil while it is flowing an alkaline solution while the latter is flowing in an opposite direction to that of the oil and separating from the oil While still flowing the alkaline solution.

9. The hereindescribed continuous process of purifying oil, which consists in cooling the oil with water to reduce it to a temperature of approximately 60 for the acid treatment, separating the water from the oil, mixing with the oil while bein rotated and while flowing continuously sul uric acid flowing in an opposite direction to that of the oil, separating from the oil while still flowing the acid sludge produced, Washing the oil to cool it and to remove acid therefrom, treating the oil with water to raise its temperature for the alkali treatment, separating the wash-water from the flowing oil, mixing with the oil while it is flowing and while at. a higher temperature than during the acid treatment an alkaline solu-v tion while the latter is flowing in an opposite direction to that of the oil and separating from the oil While still flowing the alkaline solution.

3. The apparatus hereindescribed for purifying oil while the same is flowing continuously without the loss of volatile gases, comprising an airtight mixer, a pipe conveying oil to the bottom thereof, a. pipe conveying acid to the top thereof, means in the mixer for rotating the oil, and subdividing and thoroughly agitating it with the acid, means for sepa-rating from the oil the acid sludge produced, a washer to the bot tom of which the oil is admitted, means for supplying water to the top of the washer, means for Withdrawin the wash-Water from the oil, means for raising the temperature of the oil, an airtight mixer to the lower said chambers for effecting a succession of discharges of said purifying agen?J in a guttulous condition across and against the current of the distillate, and a succession of means aternating with thel centrifugal means for deadening gyratory centrifugal in the presence of two Witnesses.

- MU E. SHNER,

Admm'emirm of Skner, deceased.

impetus -and permittm the urifying Witnesses: agent to sink or drift ownwar against LLOYD Wiens', the rising current of the istillate. A. N. MITCHELL.

Gopie: of this patent may 'be obtained tot ve cents each, by addressing the Gcmanssonezr of @atmen Washingteu, D.. G.

the estate of @liver J.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature 10 

